As Above, So Below (2014) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Most of the film takes place in the Catacombs of Paris, an extensive underground network of tunnels beneath the city. The story begins in Iran, where Scarlet Marlowe is searching for clues, but quickly shifts to Paris as she and her team descend into the famous ossuaries and subterranean passages that hold the secrets they're seeking.

• paris catacombs underground tunnels setting location

The Philosopher's Stone symbolizes the quest for truth and self-understanding. Scarlet's search for the legendary stone is really a journey into her own psyche, forcing her to confront the painful truths about herself and her father's legacy. The stone represents the ultimate knowledge, one that comes only through facing one's deepest fears and past traumas.

• philosopher's stone symbol meaning theme truth quest

Scarlet is driven by her desire to honor her father's legacy. Her father was also searching for the Philosopher's Stone, and his work became his obsession. Scarlet continues his quest not just for the promise of eternal life, but to understand her father and come to terms with what his search cost him, and what it might cost her.

• scarlet marlowe father legacy motivation protagonist

The film features apparitions and manifestations of the characters' past regrets and traumas. These supernatural encounters represent the psychological burdens each character carries, ghosts of past mistakes that literally haunt them in the depths of the catacombs. The boundary between reality and nightmare blurs as the characters descend deeper.

• supernatural horror apparitions ghosts past trauma

The Paris Catacombs are an underground ossuaries holding the remains of approximately six million people. Originally quarry tunnels, they were converted in the late 18th century to hold the skeletal remains from overflowing Paris cemeteries. The film uses this real historical location as a metaphor for confronting the past, both personal and collective.

• catacombs paris history ossuaries underground burial

Benjy is Scarlet's cameraman and documentarian. Throughout the journey, he grapples with haunting memories and regrets that surface as the supernatural events intensify. His character illustrates how unresolved trauma can linger and manifest, adding psychological depth to the group's descent into the tunnels.

• benjy character backstory camera trauma memories

Papillion serves as the local guide who helps navigate the catacombs' dangerous passages. He carries his own burden of guilt over a lost friend, which adds complexity to his character. His knowledge of the underground tunnels is crucial, but his personal demons also become intertwined with the group's supernatural ordeal.

• papillion guide character catacombs guilt friend

The story begins in Iran to establish Scarlet's quest and the international scope of her search for the Philosopher's Stone. Iran represents the film's opening chapter of exploration and ancient heritage, creating a contrast with the more intimate, claustrophobic setting of the Paris catacombs. The shift also signals the descent from broad historical search into deeply personal reckoning.

• iran paris setting contrast location journey

The film is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern-day exploration and adventure. While the search for the Philosopher's Stone draws on ancient alchemical traditions, the characters operate in a present-day world with modern equipment and concerns, grounding the supernatural elements in a recognizable reality.

• contemporary modern day time period setting era

Guilt is a central theme, driving the characters' psychological journeys. Each character carries unresolved guilt, whether from past decisions, failed relationships, or perceived failures. The catacombs force them to face these guilt-ridden memories directly, making the underground descent as much an internal journey of redemption as a physical one.

• guilt redemption theme psychology trauma past